I smelled his minty cologne and his normal manly scent that was crisp and refreshing. I looked up to him and a beaming smile greeted me.
“You sure you won't extend your vacation? I can handle the company–·”
“No, Raphael,” hinarap ko siya at parang ahas ang mga bisig ko na kinulong ang leeg niya. “Everything’s fine here, I have a life in America, I have a… Raphael… there.”
Sumungaw ang matinding ngiti sa labi niya at namula na parang kamatis. “And here…” dinagdagan niya ang pangungusap ko.
Ako naman ngayon ang ngumiti ng malapad. Tama. Siya ang meron ako doon at dito. Kahit kaibigan ang pagkilala ko sakanya ay alam kong may espesyal na namamagitan sa amin.
At ngayong opisyal niya akong nililigawan ay alam kong may panibagong kabanata sa aming dalawa.
Natawa ako ng may naisip kaya napangiwi siya.
“What!?” Inis niya dahil grabe ang tawa ko habang magkayakap parin kami.
Napapailing nalang ako at pilit na inaalis sa isip ang mga bagay.
We had sex a lot of times… Like a lot! Then ngayon lang niya sinabing manliligaw siya!? Torpe pero fuck boy!
“Ang landi!”
Singhal ng limang babae ng sabay-sabay. Mukhang nagpractice pa sila. Si Halie, Yhana, Jaysiree, Mariel and … Victoria!
Hindi nakatakas sa mata ko ang mag-ama ni Halie malapit sa karaoke dahil tila nalilibang ang anak nila sa musika habang karga-karga ni Ken. Ang ngiti ng magandang prinsesa nila ay nakakahawa.
Huwag sana maging lokaret kagaya ng nanay niyang Halie-parot.
Ang dalawang tao sa gilid malapit sa limang tsismosang mga babae ay natatawa sa kagagawan nila.
Grey is holding Hilary's waist as if she were a fragile figurine that was sculpted by an ancient goddess.
They were smiling while looking at us so I gave them a nod.
Since when I was a kid, destiny has been a steadfast belief of mine, a force both brutal and unyielding. There were moments when it felt as though destiny sought to shatter me into irreparable fragments, leaving me questioning whether I deserved happiness. In those times, I saw destiny as a relentless destroyer.
But now, with the passage of time and the wisdom gained through experience, I've come to a different understanding. Destiny wasn't merely out to break me; she was testing me, refining me for the battles and challenges that awaited on life's unpredictable battlefield. She redirected my path and humbled me, teaching me the importance of knowing my place in the grand scheme of existence.
Through her trials, destiny has shaped me, molding my character and guiding me towards a deeper understanding of myself and my purpose. I've learned to respect her power and embrace the lessons she imparts, knowing that each twist and turn in my journey serves a greater purpose in the tapestry of life.
Like my relationship with Grey, it seemed destined from the start. We crossed paths, shared cherished moments, and embraced a deep love that bound us closely together. Yet, as time unfolded, destiny unveiled a truth we couldn't ignore.
We were like parallel red strings—forever aligned, yet destined never to converge and intertwine at their heart.
Our bond remained strong, our connection enduring, but the realization dawned that our paths, though running side by side, would never merge into a single, unified journey.
It was a revelation both poignant and inevitable, echoing the quiet resignation that sometimes, despite love's fervent embrace, destiny holds the final thread.
“Hey,” a familiar voice soothes my ears. He, who dominated my mind earlier. “Thank you.”
Dumikit siya sa'kin at inakbayan ako. Nasa gate kami ng bahay pero rinig ko ang maingay na musika.
“Ang layo na ng narating natin,” tumingin siya sa langit at dinaluhan ko siya. “You will always have a place in my heart… know that I'm here, if you need someone to talk to and if you need someone to carry some of your shits… nandito parin ako.” Bahagya siyang tumingin sa direksyon ko at nagtama ang mga mata namin.
“Nandito lang din naman ako, sabi ko nga sayo noon, I'm one call away.”
Sabay kaming tumawa at ramdam ko ang pagpintig ng mga puso namin sa mga oras na iyon. Pintig na pasasalamat, pagmamahal at kapayapaan sa isa't-isa.
Bagong pintig ng kabanata para sa busilak na pagkakaibigan.
As though in a choreographed dance, our heads turned upwards in unison, drawn by some unseen cue.
The night was as calm as our hearts.
The moon, a radiant presence above, illuminated the landscape as our eyes sparkled with contentment. Stars shimmered overhead, their twinkling echoing the steady rhythm of our accepting hearts, accepting that we were as fixed in our paths as parallel lines.
Silhouetted against the dark canvas of the sky, the clouds rested in tranquil anticipation. They seemed poised, awaiting the sun's first light to reveal their true essence and beauty.
As if anticipating the unfolding of destiny, they waited for the day to come, ready to yield to the wind's gentle persuasion and embrace whatever shapes fate would sculpt them into.
Though they might strive to mold themselves with determination, the inexorable pull of predestined narratives lingered. Acceptance, inevitable and serene, was their only recourse.
In the end, much like the clouds, our journey through life is shaped by forces beyond our control. It is within our power, however, to decide how we will carry ourselves through the twists and turns that fate lays before us.
Just like the clouds, let us ride the wind of fate and be delightful in the journey of life.
***
Maraming Salamat sa suporta!!!
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The Parallel Red Strings
General Fiction"Lahat ng iyon, hindi lang dahil sa isang laro." According to the theory of Red String, the two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of place, time, or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle but never br...
CHAPTER 40
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